Wheel.



No. 858.4895 l 4 PATBNTBD JULY 2. 19o?. P. YAUGHA'N, v WHEEL.

APPm'uATIoN :umn MAn.5,19oe.

ms Nannls Perses en.. wumuarow n.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK P. VAUGHAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed Malh 5,1906. Serial NO- 304.385.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK P. VAUGHAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheels,of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in wheels.

The obj ect of the present invention is to improve the constructionofwlheels, and to so position the load and to so arrange the applicationof the draft of the wheel, that the weight of the load may be utilizedto aid the rotation of the wheel in traveling over an obstruction or inascending an acclivity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel adapted torotate on level ground with perfect freedom, and capable, when it meetsan obstruction, of operating as a lever of the first class to lift theload, whereby when the load is lifted and advanced sufficiently, it willcause the wheel to roll over an obstruction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel of this characterhaving vertically adjustable load-receiving means, adapted to enable therunning-gear of a vehicle, or other load-carrying construction, to bearranged at the desired elevation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed outin the claims, hereto appended; it being understood that various changesin the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction, Withinthe scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. i

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of aIunning-gearprovided with wheels constructed in accordance with thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig.3. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6is a detail'sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. i

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawing.

1 designates the rim or outer section of the wheel,

which is designed for use on various kinds of vehicles, tractionengines, machines, and the like, and the said rim 1 which, in theaccompanying drawing, also forms the tread of the wheel, may beconstructed of any suitable material, and may be in a variety of formsto provide a wheel of the desired character. Within the rim is arrangedan inner member 2, which is capable of rotary movement independently ofthe outer section or rim, anti-friction devices 3 being interposedbetween the outer section and the inner member to permit the two partsto have relative frictionless movement on each other. Various forms ofanti-friction devices may be employed without affecting the character ofthe result. In the accompanying drawing, anti-friction balls are shown,suitable grooves 4 and 5 being provided in the inner face of the rim ofthe wheel and the outer face of the inner member, to form a race for theballs. The balls are preferably introduced into the race through anopening 6, in which is secured a plug 7, by a transverse fasteningdevice 8.

The inner member 2, which is shown in the form of an open annulus orring to provide an open wheel, may, of course, be varied in form withoutaffecting the relative independent rotary movement between the innermember and the outer rim. The inner circular section or member 2 carriesa support 9, which, in the present instance, is in the form of avertical standard, having a vertical longitudinal opening 10, to permita load-receiving block or member 11 to be adjusted vertically. The upperend of the support 9 is fitted in a socket 12 of the inner circularsection or member 2, and the lower end 13 of the support is preferablyin vthe form of an upwardly tapered foot, which is interlocked with theinner section or member 2 at the bottom thereof, and which is adapted torest directly upon the anti-friction devices, and subject the lowerportion of the outer section or rim directly to the weight of the load.The bottom of the inner section or member is provided with a taperingrecess 14, to receive the upwardly tapered foot 13 of the support 9, andthe said foot 13 is provided at its front and rear faces with projectingtongues 15, which are arranged in corresponding grooves 16 of the frontand rear walls of the recess 14. By this construction the foot of thesupport is interlocked against vertical and lateral movement. Theinclination of the walls of the tapered recess 14 prevent any `verticaldisplacement of thefoot, and the tongues hold the foot againsthorizontal movement. This construction, however, enables the weight ofthe load to be transmitted directly to the outer section or rim of thewheel without being distributed throughout the inner section or member2. The socket 12 depends from the top of the inner section or member 2,and conforms to the configuration of the standard or support. Thesupport, however, can be of various forms to provide a wheel of thedesired character and appearance.

The vertically adjustable load-receiving block or member 11 is providedwith a central opening 17, for the reception of one end ,of an axle 18.The axle 18, in the accompanying drawing, is shown arched, but

this is not necessary, as the vertical adjustment of the block or memberll will enable a straight axle to be arranged either close to the groundor at a suicient elevation to clear ordinary obstructions. The block ormember s provided at the inner and outer faces of the support withprojecting flanges 19 and 20 for i'etaining the block or member ll inthe opening of the support. The inner iianges are integral with theblock or member ll, and the outer flanges are formed by ay detachableplate, suitably secured to the outer end of the block or member ll.

The support is provided at intervals with means for holding the block ormember ll at different elevations, and these means preferably consist ofdogs 2l, arranged in pairs and secured in slots 22 of the side portionsof the support, by pivots 23. The pivots 23 are arranged at the lowerends of the dogs, which are tapered to iorm inwardly projecting portionsthat abut, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawing. The loweredges of the inner portions of the dogs are inclined or beveled, andwhen' the block or member ll is movedA upwardly, the dogs swingoutwardly. The dogs are automatically swung inwardly beneath the blocl;or member ll by springs 24. The springs 24, which are secured at theirlower ends to the support by rivets 25, or other suitable fasteningdevices, have free upper ends for engaging the outer edges of the dogs.The draft is applied to the inner section or member oi the wheel inadvance of the center, or rather, the vertical diameter of the wheel, asuiiicient distance so that the point of application oi the draft willlie in advance 0i a stone or other obstruction met by the wheel, wherebythe wheel will form a lever of the first class for lifting the load. Thestone'or obstruction constitutes the fulcrum of the lever, and when theload is raised and advanced sufficiently, it will cause the wheel toroll forward over the obstruction. ln this manner the weight of the loadmay be causedl to assist the rotation of the wheel, and this may beeffected by throwing the weight in advance of the vertical diameter ofthe wheel. Should the foot of the support be thrown forward in advanceof its central position at the bottom oi the wheel, it will be apparentthat the weight of the load will operate to assist the forward rotationoi the wheel. This change in the position of the parts of the wheel maybe temporarily, or otherwise effected, and will be found of advantage indrawing the wheel over an obstruction. The particular manner of mountingthe support will admit of the application oi the weight of the load tothe lower portion of the outer section or rim, in advance oi thevertical diameter of the wheel.

Ordinarily the draft will be applied to the front of the inner sectionor member, which is provided with an inwardly projecting ear or eye 26,and having an opening ior the reception of a transverse draft-bar ormember 27. The draft-bar or member 27 extends across the running-gearand connects the front wheels, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2 of thedrawing, and its terminals may be threaded for the reception oi nuts 28.A tongue 29 is centrally connected to the transverse bar or member 27,and is adapted to support a doubletree 30 in the usual manner. However,the draft may be applied to the front wheels in various other ways tosuit the character of the vehicle, inachine, or other device to which`the wheels are applied.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A wheel o1 the class described comprising an outer rotary section orriin, and ali inner section or member mounted for independent rotarymovement and carrying means for supporting a load, said wheel beingprovided with means mounted wholly on it; i'or connecting thc di'ul't tothe wheel in advance ot the loadc:ii'rying means.

2. A wlieelof the class described comprising an outer rotary rim orsection, an inner section or member mounted for independent rotarymovement, means carried by the inner member in its rotary movement: forsupporting a load, and means mounted wholly on the wheel for applyingthe draft to the wheel in advance of the load-supporting means.

3. A wheel of the class described comprising an outer rotary rim orsection, an inner section or member mounted for independent rotarymovement, anti-friction devices interposed between the outer section orrim and the inner section oi' member, means carried by the inner memberin its rotary movement for supporting a load, and means for applying thedraft to the wheel in advance ot' the loadsupporting means.

el. A wheel of the class described comprising :in outer rotary rim orsection, an inner support mounted for independent rotary movement, andcarrying means for sup porting a load, and means mounted wholly on thewheel for applying the draft to the wheel in advance of the loadcairyingmeans.

5. A wheel of the class described comprising au outer rotary rim orsection, and an inner support mounted for independent rotary movementand provided with adjustable load-receiving means adapted to permit aload to be arranged at diterent elevations.

6. A wheel of the class described comprising an outer rotary rim orsection, and an inner support mounted for independent rotary movementand provided with vertically adjustable means for receiving a load, andmeans for con necting the draft to the wheel in advance of the loadcarrying means.

7, A wheel of the class described comprising :in outer rotary section orrim, an inner support mounted for independent rotary movement, aload-receiving element mounted on the support for vertical adjustment,and means cui'l ried by the support and arranged at intervals forsecuring the said element in its adjustment.

S. A wheel ot' the class described comprising an outer rotary section ormember, an inner support mounted for independent rotary movement andprovided with an opening, a block slidable in the opening, and dogscarried by the inner member for securing the block in its adjustment.

E). A wheel of the class described comprising an outer rotary section ormember, an inner support inounicd for independent rotary movement andprovided with an opening, a block slidable in the opening, andspring-actuated dogs arranged in pairs and located at opposite sides ofthe said opening for supporting the block in its adjustment.

it). A wheel of the class described comprising an outer rotary sectionor member, an inner vertical support mounted for independent rotarymovement and provided with a longitudinal opening, spring-actuated dogspivotally mounted at opposite sides of the opening and having lower bevveled or inclined edges, and a block adjustable in the opening of thesupport and arranged to engage the inclined edges of the dogs forswinging the saine outwardly, said dogs being disposed in pairs andarranged to abut for supporting the block in its adjustment.

11. A wheel of the class described comprising an outer rotary riin orsection, an inner member mounted for liide pendent rotary movement, anda support carried by the inner member in the movement thereof to shiftthe position of the load and having an independent movement, whereby theweight is applied to the outer section or riin.

12. A wheel of the class described comprising an outer rotary section orrim, an inner member mounted for independent rotary movement, and asupport carried by the `inner member in such rotary movement andinterlocked with the lower portion thereof and having an independentdownward movement.

13. A wheel of the class described comprising an outer rotary section orrim, an inner member mounted for independent rotary movement andprovided at the bottom with an opening, and a support fitted in theopening and having an independent downward movement for applying theweight directly to the outer rim or section.

14. Avwheel of the class described comprising an outer rotary section orrim, an inner member mounted for independent rotary movement andprovided at the bottom with a tapered opening and having a recess, and asupport having a tapered foot tted in the opening and provided with atongue for engaging the recess. Y

15. A wheel of the class described comprising an outer rotary rim orsection, an inner member mounted for independent movement, a supportcarried by the inner member and having adjustable load-receiving means,said support having a downward movement independent of the inner memberto apply the weight of the load directly to the outer section or rim,and means for applying the draft to the wheel in advance of theload-carrying means.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK P. VAUGIIAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. Stearns, H. F. RILEY.

